He kept replaying it over and over in his head. It was a constant buzzing, like a fly that wouldn’t leave him alone
Since he was a kid as far back as he could remember physical touch had always been uncomfortable for him. He had been in a low place when Sergio had found him. He had been almost seventeen and it had been both a blessing and a curse.
A blessing because Sergio had given him a family.
A purpose.
It was a curse because he had always felt like an outsider.
Dominic, Rick, and Danny were all really close. They had always been that way. Had all been together long before he had come into the picture and to Sergio’s home. And not being able to stand touch or being able to trust those around him, made it hard to accept what was in front of him.
By the time he realized what he might be able to have, it had been too late. He had already been on the outside looking in.
Now he was able to hide it a lot of the time. Pulling a blank mask over his face. Not letting anyone close. It worked most of the time.
But it was still hard.
Prison had been even worse.
He shut the door on that thought, looking over to the little bird next to him. He didn’t know what it was about her, or where it would lead, but he didn’t think he could walk away.
“Are you hungry?” he asked taking an exit that had a sign for multiple fast food stops.
He didn’t think going into a restaurant was a good idea for multiple reasons. One he didn’t know how she would handle it, and two they still had a timeline to meet.
He didn’t think they were being followed, but they were still close to Ernesto’s territory and hanging around wasn’t going to do them any good.
So a drive through would have to do.
He turned his head to see her watching him.
“What do you want? There’s a Taco Bell or McDonald’s, what sounds good?” Her brow furrowed and she looked out over the restaurants in front of them.
“Little bird, I need an answer,” he said as softly as he could manage, he knew that she was overwhelmed, but he needed her to understand that she had choices now.
The sooner he got started making her whole the better.
“I don’t … I don’t know …” she said softy looking ready to cry. Her eyes were rimmed in red, and he couldn’t take the sight.
His jaw clenched and his knuckles turned white on the steering wheel.
“Okay,” he said working with everything he had to not let the anger seep into his voice.
If he could raise the dead, he would bring back Ernesto and kill the fucker all over again.
Slowly.
“How about we get something from each then, okay?”
By the time they had made it through both places, the back seat was loaded with fast food bags, and she was staring at them in shock, her pretty mouth parted.
“Go ahead and eat,” he said driving back the way they had come to get on the freeway again. When she didn’t move, he looked over. There were tears in her eyes as she stared at him.
“Thank you,” she whispered and his heart soared.
I got you, little bird.
